Eugenio B. Bito-onon Jr.

Eugenio B. Bito-onon Jr. is a Filipino politician and member of the Liberal Party, who has been elected Kalayaan Mayor twice, serving since 2010. He was re-elected in May 2013, winning his re-election bid with 108 votes against rivals Noel Osorio (69 votes) and Rosendo Mantes (46 votes). Bit-onon failed in his re-election bid in 2016,

Bito-onon is a pioneer and town planner who moved to Thitu Island in 1997 to help strengthen Filipino sovereignty claims to the South China Sea. Believing that a civilian presence helps to strengthen Filipino claims to the South China Sea. Bito-onon helped to establish the first deliberately settled civilian town in the Spratlys on Thitu Island in 2001. In June 2012, he helped establish the Pag-Asa Elementary School, the first school on Thitu Island. Referred to by Hayton as Cloma's heir, Bito-onon also oversaw the completion of a small statue of Tomas Cloma on Thitu Island.

Bito-onon is a strong supporter of Filipino sovereignty and vocal critic of Chinese activities in the South China Sea. Bit-onon has also actively promoted international awareness of the Filipino view of the dispute, having hosted and acted as a guide for multiple international news organizations, including Seth Doane from CBS News, and other reporters, including ones from The New York Times , CNN and the Asahi Shimbun,

Bito-onon advocates greater US involvement in the South China Sea dispute. He has visited the US and held meetings with the Filipino-American community to promote awareness and elicit support for his cause. He also promotes turning the Spratly Islands into an ecotourism zone.

Bito-onon claims that the energy resources in the South China Sea are enough to support China's needs for the next 105 years. Bito-onon is generally only able to visit Thitu Island once a year. Together, they have two sons.